‘FG undermining FOI Act via poor funding’

Federal Government has been accused of undermining the effectiveness of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act through persistent underfunding, according to Media Rights Agenda (MRA).

In a statement released, yesterday, and its new 22-page report, titled: ‘A Vote Against Transparency: A Report on Allocations for Freedom of Information Implementation in 2025 Federal Budget’, the group revealed that only one per cent of federal public institutions included allocations for FOI implementation in their 2025 budget proposals.

MRA noted that only 13 out of over 1,300 federal public institutions made provisions for FOI-related activities, with a total proposed allocation of N230.8 million, representing a mere 0.000464 per cent of the Federal Government’s N49.74 trillion budget for 2025.

Programme Officer, MRA, John Gbadamosi, described the allocation as inadequate, emphasising the importance of funding the FOI Act to promote transparency and accountability in governance.

“Without adequate investment in the FOI Act, expenditures for infrastructure and other development projects could easily be misappropriated,” he said.

Gbadamosi argued that effective implementation of the FOI Act would yield long-term benefits, such as improving government transparency, fostering public trust, and enhancing democratic governance.

He listed the 13 public institutions that allocated funds for FOI implementation, including the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Bureau of Public Service Reforms, and the Nigerian Law Reform Commission.

While acknowledging a 96.76 per cent increase in FOI-related allocations compared to 2024, Gbadamosi insisted that the overall funding level remains insufficient.

He lamented that nearly 14 years after the FOI Act was enacted, the Federal Government had failed to demonstrate the political will necessary for its effective implementation. MRA’s report highlighted persistent neglect, including the absence of sanctions for public institutions that flout the law.

“No ministry, department, or agency has ever been reprimanded for disobeying the FOI Act, even when court orders mandate compliance,” Gbadamosi noted. The group called on the Federal Government to adopt the 12 recommendations outlined in its report. They include strengthening the Federal Ministry of Justice’s oversight role in monitoring FOI Act compliance, tracking response times, and addressing bottlenecks to ensure that the Act functions as a tool for transparency rather than a symbolic gesture.

MRA urged the government to prioritise funding for FOI Act implementation to combat the culture of secrecy and corruption that the legislation was designed to eliminate.